Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication or “body language” communication by facial expressions, head or eye movements, hand signals, and body postures. It can be just as important to understanding as words are Misunderstandings – often amusing but sometimes serous-can arise between people from different cultures if they misinterpret non verbal signals. Take, for example, in the United States: a circle made with the thumb and index finger. To an American, means that everything is OK. To Japanese, the difference in meaning of a gesture very common, it means that you are talking about money. In France, it that something is worthless, and in Greece, it is an obscene gesture. Therefore, an American could unknowingly offering a Greek by using that particular hand signal.
The following incident illustrates how conflicting nonverbal signals can caused serious misunderstanding. While lecturing to his poetry class at Ain Shams University in Cairo, a British professor became so relaxed he leaned back in his chair and revealed the bottom of his foot to the astonished class. The next day, the Cairo newspapers carried headlines about the student demonstration that resulted, and they denounced British arrogance and demanded that the professor be sent home. Making such a gesture in Muslim society the worst kind of insult.
